Religion Article

This piece contains false and inaccurate remarks about Prophet Muhammad and is obviously based on ignorance about Islam and history.

The A-J religion editor selected to mix in the same paragraph, thus subtly equating, the acts of Baruch Goldstein who in her words "massacred Arab worshippers in a Hebron Mosque" with the Prophet of Islam. To Muslims, this mixing betrays poor taste and unquestionable impropriety.

In addition, she cited a shady source claiming that Muhammad expelled and waged Jihad against Jews and Makkan polytheists. Since historical contexts of ancient wars are complex, it is not wise to address them so simplistically. Besides omitting facts, it could reinforce prejudices and create a state of divisiveness among communities.

Actually, it was the Makkan tribes who attacked, persecuted and tortured the Muslims for more than 14 years and forced them to migrate to Ethiopia and later to Medina where they fought their first battle. It is also known that for more than 13 centuries and until the creation of Israel in 1948, Jewish communities had flourished in Muslim lands particularly in the Arab countries, Muslim Spain, and under the Ottoman rule of Turkey.

We urge A-J editors to cite respected authors such as Haykal, Nadwi, Esposito, and Hart and avoid anonymous ones, and as you always refrain from using derogatory phraseology with Christians and Jews, so you should be as careful not to offend Muslims.